Razor blade edge aligning device



April 8, 1941. v. JARVI RAZOR BLADE EDGE ALIGNING DEVICE Filed latch 13u, 1940 .arbara 12d w" )7W *al 90 Figui INVENTOR W Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATES rTsNT orEicE RAZOR BLADE EDGE ALIGNING DEVICE Vaino J arvi, New York, N. Y.

Application March 13, 1940, Serial No. 323,781 9 claims. (ci. siglas) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a razor blade edge aligning or perfecting device or crystal strop.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of a device for sharpening or preserving the cutting edges of razor blades of the Gillette type or other double edged or single edged blades, and characterized by a base having a smooth concave top surface and provided with a means arranged in a manner to cause the cutting edges or edge of the blade to be disposed at right angles to the length of a concave top surface or arranged to hold the blade concave to act on a straight surface.

Still further it is proposed to provide a means for pivotally mounting the said means in a manner to swing in an arc concentric with the curva ture of the concave top surface so as to cause the cutting edges of the razor blade to be sharpened while being moved across the concave top surface with its cutting edges arranged accurately at right angles to the length of the concave top surface.

Another object of this invention proposes to characterize the holding means by a handle extending from the base and which carries a bar on its bottom end and which is accurately arranged at right angles to the concave top surface in a manner to be engaged into the centrally disposed slot formed in the razor blade to dispose the blade as hereinbefore described.

Still further it is proposed to provide the bottom end of the handle with a member arranged to engage the top face of the razor blade immediately behind its cutting edges to urge the cutting edges into face contact with the concave top surface of the base.

Still further it is proposed to provide the bottom end of the handle with a means for imparting a slight curvature to the razor blade in a Y manner to cause the'cutting edges to be more accurately seated upon the top surface of the base.

For further Vcomprehension of the invention, and of the object and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing,` and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig, 1 is a perspective View of a razor blade edge aligning device constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. l.

member I 6.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the handle and its bottom member in araised position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed View of a portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the bottom portion of the handle.

Fig. '1 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the top blade holding member.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the bottom blade holding member.

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the handle and its respective parts used in the form of the invention similar to Fig. 7, but illustrating a still further modification.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view, illustrating another modication of the device.

The razor blade edge aligning device, according to this invention, includes a base I0 having a smooth concave top surface Ita. This base I0 is preferably constructed of glass, plastics or any similar material capable of being polished to a high finished surface. Upwardly extending walls Il)b continue from the body portion of the base I0 and extend completely around the concave top surface Ill and are arranged for the purpose of maintaining lubricating uids within the concave top surface. This lubricating fluid should preferably be Water, but it may also be oil or any other similar fluid for aiding the movement of a conventional razor blade across the concave top surface. A razor blade II of the Gillette type or any other double edged or single edged blade which has a centrally disposed slot Ila which extends parallel to its cutting edges Ilb is adapted to be placed upon the concave top surface Illa with its cutting edges arranged substantially at right angles to the length of the concave surface.

A handle I 2 extends radially from the concave top surface lila. The handle I2 is formed with a slot I2a which extends longitudinally thereof. The bottom end of the handle carries a bottom This bottom member` IB is formed with upwardly extending lugs I3 which extend along opposite sides of the bottom end of the handle I2. Pins I4 are engaged through the lugs I3 and into the handle I2 for pivotally supporting the bottom member I6 on the handle. The bottom member Iii is arranged to have its side edges I6a engage the tcp face of the razor blade II immediately behind its cutting edges IIb. The

member I6 acts to urge the bottom of the cutting edges I |`D of the razor blade into face contact with the top surface of the base Iii.

A bar I1 is horizontally supported upon the bottom end of the handle I2 beneath the bottom face of the member I3. This bar Il has a rod I8 extending upwards therefrom. The rod I8 has a square cross section and extends through a square throat opening I9 formed in the bottom end of the handle I2. The inner end of the rod I8 has a head Iiiau located within an enlarged opening I 2Z formed in the handle and continuing from the throat opening I9. The relationship between the handle I2, the bar Il and the rod i8 is so accurately formed that the bar I7 extends exactly at right angles to the length of the concave top surface Il]a of the base. This bar Il is adapted to be passed through the slot I I a formed in the razor blade I I, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4,

for causing the cutting edges IIb of the blade II to be extended exactly at right angles to the length of the concave top surface Illa.

A shaft Z is extended horizontally through the slot IZa formed in the handle i2. An arm 2i is provided, which has its bottom end mounted .f

on one side wall of the base I The bottom end of the arm 2| is provided with a vertically extended elongated slot 22 through which a screw passes. This screw 23 is embedded in the material of the upwardly extending wall Ilb of the base Ill. A thumb nut 24 is engaged upon the screw 23 for clamping the arm 2| into face contact with the wall of the base I Il. The wall of the base Ill on opposite sides of the arm 2| is provided with integrally formed outwardly extending lugs to be returned to its starting position for xedly .Af

holding the same in its newly adjusted position.

The arm 2| extends upwards from the base I0 and has its free end bent at right angles to assume a position parallel to the concave surface Illa. A yoke 2|a is turnably mounted on the free end of the arm 2| and has its arms extending along opposite sides of the handle. The free ends of the shaft 2li are fixedly attached to the ends of the arms of the yoke 2| a.

A resilient means acts between the top face of the bottom member IE- and the shaft 2l) for urging these parts in opposite directions. This resilient means is in the form of a spring 28 which operates between the top face of the member I5 and the shaft 2|) for urging the bottom member I6 against the top face of the razor blade II. In view of the fact that the shaft 2|) extends through the slot i2a formed in the handle I2 it is possible for the handle to move downwards relative to the shaft 2t as caused by the expansion of the spring 28 to permit the bottom member It to engage the top face of the razor blade I I.

'I'he operation of this form of the invention is as follows:

For sharpening the cutting edges of a razor blade it is merely necessary to manually raise the handle I2 to similarly raise the bottom member I6 against the holding action of the spring 28 to the position shown in Fig. 1. The force of gravity will cause the bar Il to remain in face Lit) contact with the concaved top surface IQa of the base I0. The bar I'I is then also raised to permit the blade I I to be sharpened to be engaged therebeneath. The bar Il is again lowered and caused to pass into the slot IIa of the blade H. Due to the fact that the slot Ila extends parallel to the cutting edges IIb and the bar extends exactly at right angles to the length of the concaved top surface Ia the blade II will be turned into a position in which the cutting edges will be exactly at right angles to the length of the concave top surface It!a and the device will be in the position illustrated in Fig. 4.

The handle I2 is again released and the tension of the spring 28 will cause the handle I2 to move downwards on the shaft 20 to cause the edges I6a of the member i6 to engage the top face of the razor blade I I immediately behind its cutting edges IIb. The pivotal mounting of the member iii will permit it to turn into a position in which it will be accurately seated on the blade II. The device is then in the position shown in Fig. 3 and ready for sharpening the blade which is accomplished by manually grasping the top end of the handle I2 and moving the same backward and forwards to pivot the handle about the shaft 28 and cause the blade to be moved across the face of the base ID to sharpen the cutting edges. After being moved across the concaved top surface I0a several times, the blade ||y is again released and turned around and positioned beneath the member I6 to permit the other side of the cutting edges IIb to be sharpened.

In the modication of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and l0 the construction of the aligning device is similar to that previously described, except for the provision of a means for imparting a slight curvature to the blade relative to a ilat top surface Illaa found on the base Eil. To accomplish this an inverted U-shaped yoke 29 is pivotally attached to the bottom end of the handle I2 by means of lugs I3 and pins Irl. The intermediate arm 29a is pivotally attached to the handle I2 intermediate of its ends and the side arms 29b extend downwards from the intermediate arm 29a.

The bottom member consists of a pair of superimposed members I' and I". The razor blade II is adapted to be engaged between the adjacent faces of these members I6 and I5" as shown in Fig. 6. Due to the fact that the members I 6 and I6 have a slight curvature they will impart the same curvature to the blade I I. The bottom member I6 is provided with outwardly extending trunnions 30 which are adapted to engage complementary openings 3| formed in the downwardly extending side arms 29h of the yoke 29.

The yoke 29 is formed of slightly flexible material for permitting the free ends of the downwardly extending side arms 2gb to be spread apart to permit the trunnions Si) to be engaged and removed from the openings 3 I. This form of the invention is also provided with a means for causing the cutting edges I ib of the razor blade to be extended at a desired angle to the length of the concave top surface I da@ of the base I8. This means comprises an integrally formed upwardly extending bar formed on the top face of the bottom member I6. This bar I'i is adapted to pass through the opening ||a in the blade II and into a complementary opening Il" formed in the top member I6. A screw 32 carrying a washer 33 is adapted to be engaged into the bar I1 for locking the top member IG" and the razor blade II in position on the bottom member I5.

In other respects this form of the -vinvention is similar to the previous form.` l 'I In Fig. 10, the bottom member IW is curved opposite to the uppermember 16"; for holding the razor bladein a-'position which permits the rotation of same about trunnions 30, so that either member Iii'v`l or Him may be at the top.-

In the form of the' inventionshown in Fig. ll the bottom member 34' is so'arranged that it tends to impart a slight curvature to the razor blade II so that it may be moved across the iiat surface Ida of the base member Il). The bottom member 341s formed with a pair of spaced upwardly extending lugs 35. These lugs 35 are adapted to extend along opposite sides of the bottom end of the handle i2. Pins 36 are passed through the lugs 35 and into the bottom end of the handle I2 forpivotally 'supporting the bottom member upon the bottom end of the handle i2 l. 1

The bottom facie of the bottom member 34 has a downwardly extending projection 34a which continues into an integrally formed bar 34b which is adapted to engage the slot I Ia in the blade I I. This bar 34h is arranged exactly at right angles to the length of the ilat surface Il)aa and is adapted to turn the razor blade II so that its cutting edges lib will be exactly at right angles to the length of the flat surface I0, A screw 31 is threadedly engaged into the bottom of the bar slib and securely holds the blade in position on the bottom member 3d. The bottom face of the bar 1Mb is arranged slightly higher than the free edges of the member 34 and when the screw 31 is tightened in position it tends to draw the razor previous form.

Xihile I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A razor blade edge aligning device, comprising a base having a smooth concaved top surface, a handle extending radially of said concaved surface and having a bottom member for engaging the top face of a razor blade and also having a longitudinally extending slot, a bar supported on the bottom of said handle and adapted to engage in a slot in said razor blade, a shaft engag ing through said slot in said handle, yresilient means acting between said shaft and said bottom member for urging these parts in opposite directions, and an arm mounted on said base and supporting said shaft.

2. A razor blade edge aligning device, comprising a base having a smooth concaved top surface, a handle extending radially of said concaved surface and having a bottom member for engaging the top face of a razor blade and also having a longitudinally extending slot, a bar supported on the bottom of said handle and adapted to engage in a slot in said razor blade, a shaft engaging through said slot in said handle, resilient means acting between said shaft and said bottom member for urging these parts in opposite directions, and an arm mounted on said base and supporting said shaft, said base being formed of glass, plastics or othersimilar material capable of being polished to .a high Yfinished surface.

3. A razor blade vedge aligning device, comprising a base having a smooth concaved top sur-l face, a handle extending radially of said concaved surface and having a bottom member for engaging the top` face of a razor blade and also having a longitudinally jextending slot, a bar supported on the bottom of said handle and adapted to engage in a slot in said razor blade, a `shaft engaging through said slot in said handle, resilient means acting between said shaft and said bottom member for urging these parts in opposite directions, and an arm mounted on said base and supporting said shaft, a rod extending from said bar and having a square cross section and engaging a similarly shaped throat opening extended inwards from the bottom end of said handle to cause said bar to be accurately extended at right angles the length of the concave top surface of said base to cause the cutting edges of said razor blade to be similarly extended.

4. A razor blade edge aligning device, comprising a base having a smooth concaved top surface, a handle extending radially of said concaved surface and having a bottom member for engaging the top face of a razor blade and also having a longitudinally extending slot, a bar supported on the bottom of said handle and adapted to engage in a slot in said razor blade, a shaft engaging through said slot in said handle, resilient means acting between said shaft and said bottom member for urging these parts in opposite directions, and an arm mounted on said base and supporting said shaft., said resilient means comprising a spring coaxially mounted on said handle and acting between said shaft and the top face of said bottom member.

5. A razor blade edge aligning device, comprising a base having a smooth concaved top surface, a handle extending radially of said concaved surface and having a bottom member for engaging the top face of a razor blade and also having a longitudinally extending slot, a bar supported on the bottom of said handle and adapted to engage in a slot in said razor blade, a shaft engaging through said slot in said handle, resilient means acting between said shaft and said bottom member for urging these parts in opposite directions, and an arm mounted on said base and supporting said shaft, and means for adjustably mounting the bottom end of said arm upon the side of said base member.

6. A razor blade edge aligning device, comprising a base having a smooth concaved top surface, a handle extending radially of said concaved surface and having a bottom member for engaging the top face of a razor blade and also having a longitudinally extending slot, a bar supported on the bottom of said handle and adapted to engage in a slot in said razor blade, a shaft engaging through said slot in said handle, resilient means acting between said shaft and said bottom member for urging these parts in opposite directions, and an arm mounted on said base and supporting said shaft, a yoke turnably mounted on the free end of said arm, said yoke having the free ends of its arms engaging opposite sides of said handle and said shaft having its free ends xedly attached to the free ends of said arms.

7. A razor blade edge aligning device, comprising a base having a smooth concaved top surface, a handle extending radially of said concaved surface and having a bottom member for engaging the top face of a razor blade and also having a longitudinally extending slot, a bar supported on the bottom of said handle and adapted to engage in a slot in said razor blade, a shaft engaging through said slot in said handle, resilient means acting between said shaft and said bottom member for urging these parts in opposite directions, and an arm mounted on said base and supporting said shaft, said bottom member being pivotally mounted on the bottom of said handle and urged by said resilient means into a position in which its edges will engage the top face of said razor blade immediately in back of its cutting edges.

8` A razor blade edge aligning device, comprising a base having a smooth concaved top surface, a handle extending radially of said concaved surface and having a bottom member for engaging a razor blade and a shaft engaging through said slot in said handle, resilient means acting between said shaft and said bottom member for urging these parts in opposite directions,

and an arm mounted on said base and supporting said shaft, said bottom member comprising a pair of superimposed members between which the razor blade is adapted to be disposed, and said members being formed with a complementary arch for simil-arly arching said razor blade.

9. A razor blade edge aligning device, comprising a base having a smooth concaved top surface, a handle extending radially of said concaved surface and having a bottom member for engaging the top face of a razor blade and also having a longitudinally extending slot, a bar supported on the bottom of said handle and adapted to engage in a slot in said razor blade, a shaft engaging through said slot in said handle, resilient means acting between said shaft and said bottom member for urging these parts in opposite directions, and an arm mounted on said base and supporting said shaft, and means on said bottom member for imparting a slight curvature to said razor blade and including a holding screw.

VAINO JARVI. 

